Thursday, August 2, 2007

The World's Most Romantic Wedding ?


June is traditionally the number one month for weddings. As a wedding ceremony is probably the most romantic occasion in a woman's life, more and more brides to be are choosing to maximize the romance factor by holding their wedding in a location that scores high on the romance index -- a sunset wedding on a tropical beach at sunset.

Recent statistics show that romantic travel is on the increase. More than 30% of all adults (not just brides and grooms) will go on a romantic trip this year. Weddings, honeymoons and wedding vow renewal ceremonies make up a significant number of those excursions.

Although many couples choose big cities such as London and Paris, or adventure travel destinations like Egypt and Australia, by far the highest number -- 54% to be precise -- pick relaxing destinations such as tropical beaches for their romantic travels.

This reporter has recently been researching various travel destinations and in the process uncovered what could very well be the place to have the world's most romantic wedding.

A lot of beach resorts around the world offer unique wedding packages. Some of the most popular destinations for romantic, beach weddings are Fiji, Hawaii and the Bahamas.

There are numerous luxury resorts in the Maldives islands, located in the Indian Ocean, and many of them offer unique wedding packages. For example, the Banyan Tree resort offers underwater weddings for diving enthusiasts.



But it would be a big challenge to find any tropical beach wedding ceremony more romantic than the one offered by the Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu resort in the Maldives. Their traditional Maldavian wedding ceremony takes place at sunset under a canopy built from coconut trees and leaves, on the beach of a desert island.

The bride arrives in a traditional Maldavian sailboat called a dhoni, and is carried to the beach, where the groom is waiting with the minister (in traditional dress), family and friends. After the exchange of rings and vows, the local fishermen strike up a rhythmic beat on "bodu beru" drums, to accompany the bride and groom back to their villa.

The wedding reception includes more drumming, ceremonial dancing and a barbecue dinner, and the happiness of the newlyweds is toasted with glasses of kurumba (coconut juice). The next morning, a coconut tree is ceremonially planted in honor of the newly married couple.

For more information about resorts in the Maldives, visit www.maldivesislands.info.

Robert Scheer is a freelance travel writer. His recent contributions include articles for Maldives Islands Information. Read Robert Scheer's blog at arcaneinformation.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Scheer